Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe will handle Jack Wilshere with care
ByPA Sport
Published 25/09/2016 at 06:26 GMT
Eddie Howe will continue to employ a kid-gloves strategy to help Jack Wilshere ease past his injury woes and bolster Bournemouth's midfield.
Bournemouth's Jack Wilshere will be looked after, according to boss Eddie Howe
Image credit: PA Sport
Knee problems wrecked Wilshere's pre-season with Arsenal, leading boss Arsene Wenger to send the England playmaker on loan to the Cherries.
The 24-year-old has not completed 90 minutes for two years, battling continuous ankle issues among other complaints.
Wilshere forged an effective midfield trio with Harry Arter and Andrew Surman as Bournemouth saw off Everton 1-0 however, with boss Howe later backing the loan star to continue to step up his impact.
"We'll judge it week by week, day by day, but his training time has increased and that's reflected in his performance today," said Howe of Wilshere.
"We'll want to keep him fit, so that's the ultimate thing is to keep him on the pitch. And if we can do that he's going to be a brilliant player for us this season.
"I thought he was very good today, I thought the midfield three were very good.
"The midfield looked exciting for the future, if we can keep those players fit and that balance.
"They enabled us to control the game and improved as the game went on.
"The time that he spent on the pitch and the way he spent that on the pitch, it was a really energetic performance from him.
"And it could be very nice for us to see in the future."
Junior Stanislas fired the winner in the 23rd minute with a fine 20-yard drive, as Bournemouth held firm for their second clean sheet and victory of the Premier League campaign.
Howe firmly believes Bournemouth can better last term's Premier League debut finish of 16th, but challenged the Cherries to prove his convictions correct.
"I said previously I believe we are better than last year but that can look foolish if we don't back that up," said Howe.
"That has to be decided on the pitch, that has to be proved week in week out.
"On paper is a dangerous thing, I would believe so but we have to prove that.
"It's difficult to say that now, we have to prove that at the end of the season."
Everton surrendered their unbeaten start to the Premier League season in fairly meek fashion, with new boss Ronald Koeman frustrated with his side.
Koeman accepted the loss could "maybe" prove a dose of reality, after the Toffees could have moved top of the league with a victory and the help of results elsewhere.
"We know we will not win every game, it's the Premier League, we need to be prepared for everyone," said Koeman.
"In my opinion Bournemouth are a good team, they will not fight against relegation.
"From us it was not good enough. First half Bournemouth were the better team, more aggression, winning second balls.
"They started much better than we did. It was disappointing after 45 minutes.
"The second-half at least we showed what we need to do. Good reaction of the team, some chances, not really big opportunities but we were the more dangerous team.
"It's a pity because you need to start like that."
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